Mechanical stoker.



No. 767,082. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. .T.'& w. REAGAN.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 1B. 1903.

no MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Final ITNSSES: I VENTURE, I I

No. 767,032. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. J. & w. REAGAN.

MECHANICAL STUKER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 1903.

1X0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,082, dated August9, 1904.

Applicati fil d November 16, 1908. Serial No. 181,421. (No model.)

T0 (02], whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMEs REAGAN and WILLIAM REAGAN, citizens of theUnited States of America,and residents of the cityand county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania. have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mechanical Stoker's, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to certain improve ments in mechanical stokers inwhich line fuel is fed to boiler-furnaces; and the object is toconstruct the same so as to project the coal forcibly into the furnacewithout creating a draft over the top of the lire and to maintain a bedof fuel of even thickness over the entire surface, thereby promotingcombustion and increasing the efficiency of the boiler.

Our invention consists of a series of wheels provided with flat orcurved blades mounted within a cylindrical casing bolted to theboilerfront and communicating with the furnace through an opening ofample proportions to insure a free passage of fuel and facilitating thespreading of same over the fire-surface when the blades are inoperation, the construction being such that the fuel will not becomechoked up or the air compressed within the casing to interfere with theproper Working of the stoker.

Reference is had to the accompanying draw ings, in which-- Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal section through our mechanical stoker andboilerfurnace. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a boilerfront, showing ourinvention applied. Fig. 3 is a side view of the cylindrical casingemployed in our invention. Fig. 4: is a plan view of same. Fig. 5 is atransverse section through same. Fig. 6 is an end view of the revolvingblades used in throwing the coal. Fig. 7 is a side view, partially insection, of the cylindrical casing detached from the boiler-front andshowing a series of revolving blades mounted therein. Fig. 8 is an endview of a hub carrying varying radial blades which may be employed, ifnecessary, to throw the fuel alternatively onto the front, midway, orback of the fire-furnace. Fig. 9 is a plan view of blades set at anangle to the horizontal axle to insure the spreading of the coal morethoroughly toward the right and left if it should be found necessary todo so.

The blades A, Figs. 1, 6, and 7, constituting part of the wheels forthrowing the fuel, may consist of two or more in number projectedradially from a hub B, which in turn is mounted upon a centrallongitudinal axle (1 within the cylindrical casing D, Figs. 1, 2, and 7,the said axle C having its hearings in the flanges or heads E E at eachend of the casing.

The cylindrical casings 1), Figs. 1, 2, 3, f, 5, and 7, are boltedtogether in sections by means of flanges and E on each end and form onecontinuous cylinder in length according to the width of the furnace.Within these casings are mounted, as stated, the revolving blades A,forming wheels, which are adjusted on the axle, extending in line fromend to end of said casings, as shown in Fig. 7. The casings D aresecured, by means of side flanges E" and E Figs. 3, 5, and 7, to theboiler-front directly above the lire-doors in such manner as not tointerfere with the opening or closing of same, and in order to form anoutlet for the fuel the side adjacent to the boiler-front is providedwith an eduction-openingF, which communicates through an opening F, Fig.1, with the furnace proper.

I In our description we have referred to a cylindrical casing and showna stoker so fitted but it is to be understood that this is only aconvenient form, and the shape of the inclosing case and is notessential to our invention.

It is essential that the eduction-opening F and corresponding opening Fin the boilerfront be made of such capacity as to insure a free outlet;otherwise they would become choked or stopped up and the coal would besimply carried or whirled around by the revolving blades within thecasing by the action of the blades if the apertures were small and wouldcreate a draft or blow the fires more than would be at times requisite.

The blades A of each wheel are not made of uniform width, being wider attheir outer extremities and narrow at or near the hub B, which is ofreduced length, so that when a series of blades are placed in linewithin the casing, as shown in Fig. 7, their adjacent edges will not bein actual contact, but an open space G will remain between them for thefree passage and circulation of air. The air thus circulating aroundwhen the blades are in motion Will not become compressed at anyparticular point. Neither is the fuel liable to become packed, whichwould be the case if the edges of the blades fitted closely together.The machine will thus rapidly free itself as the coal is fed. The saidblades A, which are arranged to forcibly throw and scatter the fuel, arecaused to revolve forward and over in the direction of the furnace, soas to project the fuel evenly from the deadplate to the bridge-wall andextending the full width of the furnace. In throwing the fuel during theupper half of the revolution instead of during the lower half it willdescend more freely over the entire surface and insure a bed of fuel ofuniform thickness and the fuel will be thrown more in a direct line Withthe grate-surface and low down.

Heretofore where stokers have been used with a fan-wheel the air hasbeen compressed within the cylinder and blown out, creating a draft overthe top of the fire,which is detrimental to same, and it is to avoidthis that our invention partly appertains.

A crusher 0r feeder consisting of one or moretoothed rollers H,workingwithin a cylinder I, may be secured to the upper side of the casing D,Figs. 1 and 2, and discharge the fuel through a slot or aperture J,Figs. 1, 4, and 5, onto the revolving blades A, the fuel being fedthrough a neck K on the lower portion of the hopper I, which isconnected, by means of a hinged joint, to a neck K on the upper part ofthe cylinder or casing D in order to permit the hopper to be turned downout of the way when it is desired to open the flue or uptake doors. Thefuel is fed from the hopper and passes downward between the toothed rollor rollers onto the revolving blades.

In order to thoroughly distribute the fuel directly over thegrate-surface, the arch-plate over the fire-doors is removed and theboilerfront and the lower part of the stoker protected from the heat ofthe furnace. by means of fire-bricks M, as shown in Fig. 1, and over thetop of the opening F is placed a plate or girder N, protected withfire-brick. By arranging the furnace thus no obstruction remains toimpede thefull delivery of the coal.

The stoker is bolted, as stated, to the boilerfront above the fire-doorsand is further supported on legs 0 at the ends and in the center, asshown in Fig. 2.

Power may be applied to the axle C from any suitable or convenientmotor, and the proper distribution of the fuel may be governed orcontrolled by increasing or diminishing the speed of the blades.

The fuel distributer or spreader (shown in Fig. 8) is composed ofvarying radial blades in order to throw the coal difierent distancesthatis to say, onto the front, midway, or back of the fire-surface and theblades may be set at an angle to the horizontal axle, as shown in Fig.9, to throw the coal more to the right and left, as indicated by arrowsa (4'. Either one of these modifications may be employed if at any timeit should become desirable.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fuel-distributing device, beaters or throwers so shaped as toprevent forcing the air into the furnace or the accumulation ofair-pressure within the device itself, substantially as described.

2. In a fuel-distributing device, beaters or throwers so shaped as toprevent forcing the air into the furnace or the accumulation ofair-pressure within the device itself, such beaters or throwers being soproportioned as to give an even distribution of fuel over the wholesurface of the fire when operated at a proper constant speed,substantially as specifiec.

3. In a fuel-distributing device a series of beaters or throwers soshaped and proportioned as to prevent forcing air into the furnace orthe accumulation of air-pressure within the device itself, and to givean even distribution of fuel over the whole surface of the fire whenoperated at a proper constant speed, and a casing made in sections so asto permit of ready adaptation to varying widths of furnacessubstantially as specified.

4. In a fuel distributer or spreader a series of varying radial bladesset at an angle with the horizontal axle and so shaped as to preventforcing air into the furnace or the accumulation of air-pressure withinthe device itself, the said blades being also so proportioned as to givean even distribution of fuel over the whole surface of the fire whenoperated at a proper constant speed, and with a casing made in sectionsso as to permit of ready adaptation of varying widths of furnace,substantially as described.

5. A fuel-feeder for furnaces having a casing, and means acting acrossthe path of the fuel and situated within said casing for distributingfuel over the various portions of the grate, said means being so shapedas to prevent forcing air into the furnace, substantially as described.

Signed by us at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 13th day of November,1903.

JAMES REAG-AN. IVILLIAM REAGAN. WVitnesses:

RICHARD MoELRoY, ROBERT OSBORNE, Jr.

